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Business Computing & Data Analytics BSc

Gain essential skills for the global marketplace through industry-focused learning and apply state-of-the-art methods and practices on real-world business problems
Code
I213
Start
September 2024
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years with placement
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK)*
£16,600 (INT)*
Course leader
George Dafoulas

Our business computing and data analytics degree gives you the skills, experience and expertise you need to succeed in the computer-based sector, and beyond.

Why choose BSc Business Computing & Data Analytics at Middlesex?

We designed a programme that will equip you with skills that are highly valued in the IT industry. You will gain experience in using modern software tools that are essential for a career in industry sectors dependent on data ecosystems.

You will be capable of applying innovative solutions to complex problems using your analytical skills and your ability to transform data into business intelligence guiding enterprise-wide decisions. You will also develop a wide range of soft skills that are critical for an accelerated career, as identified by our industrial board.

What you will gain

Your skills will combine the ability to determine how computing solutions can be applied on complex business problems, manage IT projects, and assess the impact of digital technologies on enterprises across different industries.

Your data analytic skills will be invaluable for supporting organisations' Business Intelligence initiatives and the creation of visualisations of corporate information to support business decisions.

You will be exposed to a wide range of business use-cases, applying problem solving, creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset in addressing modern issues with the use of data analytics and visualisation.

We have 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers so find out more today.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Employment prospects
    More than half of our graduates are employed within six months of graduating, working as data analysts, system designers, business intelligence experts
  • International reach
    You may study for one year abroad at our Dubai campus, or fully in Hendon as part of our diverse student cohort
  • Excellent reputation
    As the Top 5 university in the UK –Times Higher Education Young Universities, 2023 – we work together with employers in designing our courses

What you will learn

The interdisciplinary nature of this course makes it an excellent learning opportunity combining a wide variety of topics from both the business and computing sectors.

Throughout the programme, you will study data-oriented topics ranging from database design, and information management to business intelligence and data visualisation. This subject area will enable to become a key role player in any organisation that requires analysis of business data. You will be able to assess business performance, suggest corrective actions and predict future patterns of productivity.

Another important part of the course relates to systems analysis and design, the ability to understand organisations and how they use digital technologies. You will be exposed to real-world scenarios and work in industry-specific business case studies. Our frequent visits from industry experts will offer you the chance to experience how data analytics and IT solutions impact the business world.

Your learning journey will take you through modern fields of IT including the Augmented Reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT), Business Intelligence (BI), the cloud, data management and visualisation.


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The content of this course is aligned with current industry requirements for integrating computing solutions in modern businesses. The various modules will equip you with the necessary skills for using data analytics to address business issues, such as understanding past performance, explain current productivity patterns and forecast future demand for products and services.

The diversity of the subject matter covered in this course’s modules will offer you the chance to study interesting topics such as systems design, application development, introductory machine learning, business modelling and statistics using modern programming languages, as well as database design, web application design and development, user experience design, data analytics and business intelligence.

You will be able to acquire the skills of an IT project manager, formulate enterprise-wide IT strategies and engage in innovation management and technological entrepreneurship projects.

Year 1

The first year will provide you with a strong foundation for understanding business problems and determining suitable IT solutions. You will gain experience in fundamental methods, principles and practices used in the design and development of information systems, in areas such as Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management. You will also learn how to manage information in organisational settings, design database management systems and select suitable design methods and standards. The first year focuses on understanding and gaining knowledge, while developing your soft skills with multiple opportunities to present your work, collaborate in groups and self-management using our graded observations of assessment and learning.

Year 2

In the second year, you will be challenged to model business operations and find out how to develop decision support systems with state-of-the-art programming languages. You will study database design for online systems, using modern techniques. You will also work on machine learning and statistics for business environments, as well as gain experience in system design using UML standards. In the second year your work will include a significant proportion of applying what you have learnt in the previous year on practical problems.

Placement year

You will have the opportunity to put what you've learned to practical use and make valuable industry contacts should you decide to complete a work experience placement in your second year. So far, our students have enjoyed placement opportunities at both large global enterprises and smaller organisations, as well as start-ups.

Year 3

The final year will help you to develop your critique, independence, analytical and synthesis skills, as well as your ability to relate prior learning to current problems and come up with innovative ideas and effective solutions. In this year you will have a compulsory project module that will enable you to work on a real-world case study provided by your supervisor or select your own challenging project. Your study programme will include three more modules that you will need to choose from a range of options including business intelligence, user experience and interaction design, strategic IT project management for enterprises, technology innovation management, and entrepreneurship. All your modules will be geared towards industry-related business cases, preparing you for your first career steps.

Modules

  • Year 1 - Compulsory

    • Foundation of Informatics (90 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with the ability to have a sensible discussion about all topics in the context of real-world domain-specific information systems and demonstrate some foundational skills in these (tailored to their specialism).

      The module provides you with an opportunity to cover a range of topics from the way information is processed and information system applications to the key information system theories and practices in systems development.

      The module provides an ideal balance between theoretic aspects of information systems and practical skills in the design and development of systems.

    • Information in Organisations (30 credits)

      In any modern business environment, data is used to store, preserve, search, retrieve and display information to improve important business processes. It is essential that you have the skills and knowledge to develop information systems. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to database technology, a core IT skill required in many IT disciplines and an extremely good transferable skill.

      The module introduces you to database design, implementation and manipulation knowledge and skills. Once mastered, these skills will provide a firm foundation for higher-level academic study or a rewarding career in many IT related areas such as data analytics.

  • Year 2 - Compulsory

    • Information Systems Analysis and Design (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide a firm grounding in business systems analysis and design using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) to model information systems, and the Unified Process (a disciplined approach to assigning and managing tasks and responsibilities in a development environment).

      The module covers a range of topics including (i) Information Systems modelling and associated development lifecycle issues, (ii) application of Information Systems modelling techniques to real-life scenarios and (iii) Ethical, Professional and Legal issues concerning the design of Information Systems.

    • Database Systems: Design and Implementation (30 credits)

      This module focuses on deepening students’ understanding of database design and implementation, and the efficient use of facilities provided by a modern Database Management System.

      The module emphasises the design of business systems using aspects of conceptual data modelling (Entity Relationship Models), relational database modelling and normalisation.

      Both theoretical and practical topics relating to database modelling and implementation are covered, including SQLPlus to implement and query data in a relational database system along with technologies and tools for rendering databases for backend and frontend data processing purposes.

      This will enable you to construct dynamic web-based data queries, which access back-end databases. The module will also develop the practical skills, knowledge and experience of key techniques within the Database design industry.

    • Data Analysis for Enterprise Modelling (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the process of analysing data and making business decisions based on this analysis. The module covers a range of technologies for retrieving, organising, visualising and analysing data, as well as running statistical simulations, with the purpose of making a business decision. Special consideration will be given to the analysis of data in the wide context of entire organisations.

    • Project Planning and Research for Information Systems Professionals (30 credits)

      This module aims to help you better understand Business Information Systems for your final year project, by providing a foundation of planning skills, research methods, and data collection and analysis tools. You will learn how to apply these various skills and techniques to the different phases of the research project life cycle.

      In particular, you will learn how to formulate research questions focussed on current topics or issues appropriate to the field of study within information systems.

      You will learn how to write a research proposal, conduct a literature review, and how to use different data collection and analysis techniques to investigate different research questions. You will apply these techniques using specialist software packages.

      You will be expected to present the results of your research in a report at the end of this module. The module also aims to enhance an understanding of the ethical, legal and professional issues involved in conducting research.

  • Placement Year - Optional

    • Industrial Placement (120 credits)

      The module aims to develop your employability skills by achieving the set of agreed learning outcomes using a Three Way Negotiated Learning Agreement. The module develops a range of skills specific to the individual workplace.

      This practical experience module provides the means for you to link academic work with the 'real world', facilitating the embedding of transferable and graduate skills necessary for future career paths and employment.

      You will reflect upon areas of knowledge relevant to the placement learning experience and develop personal knowledge through a review of your learning, with the opportunity to enhance your self-expression, communication, self-reliance and co-operation.

  • Year 3 - Compulsory

    • Individual Project (30 credits)

      This module provides you with the opportunity of choosing and working on a project that reflects your interests and aims and outcomes of your programme. It should constitute a practical problem-solving project relevant to your programme of study. The primary aim of the module is to consolidate and deepen your understanding of material taught on your programme, to exercise professional judgement, to undertake individual research and to conduct an investigation and/or develop a product, process or application relevant to the focus of your programme. It provides you with the opportunity of engaging in significant system development, the typical output of which represents the solution of a problem akin to those that you as a fledgling professional practitioner are likely to encounter in future employment. The module intends that your choice of individual project will provide you with a significant opportunity to reflect on your learning progress and to develop your learning for life-long and career development.

  • Year 3 - Optional

    • Strategic Information Systems (Enterprise Project) Management (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with the ability to apply key skills in information systems to the business management domain. The module also aims to enable you to obtain important aptitudes towards using information technology solutions such as business intelligence (e.g. data analytics), digital technology solutions (e.g. smart environments) and modern forms of communication (e.g. social networks) to improve business processes. You will  acquire knowledge in a number of topics aligned to the following key areas: (i) information systems and business intelligence (in particular the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and their impact upon organisations, (ii) communications (in particular the comprehension and use of relevant communications for application in business and management, including the use of digital tools) and (iii) digital business (in particular the development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models).

    • Teaching Computing in the Secondary School (30 credits)

      The module will focus on the teaching of computer science within the secondary school (age 11-16) setting. You will observe, analyse and prepare materials for teaching practice. You will then start to apply your knowledge of computing to teaching practice.

      During this module, you will develop an understanding of the Teachers’ standards, therefore supporting your preparation for application of initial teacher training courses. You will complete reading on education pedagogy to critically analyse practice.

      The module will also support your development of public speaking.

    • Innovation and Technology Management (30 credits)

      This module provides you with knowledge of the role, control and management of innovation in information systems.

      The module will provide you with the ability to evaluate, consider and create recommendations or action plans with respect to:

      1) The societal drivers for innovation

      2) The legal and standardisation drivers and controls of innovation

      3) The use of management techniques to support innovation

      During this module, you will consider these issues with respect to real life case studies and the role and knowledge processing of futurologists.

    • Business Intelligence (30 credits)

      This module aims to develop your understanding of the techniques and approaches used to capture, store and analyse data generated by organisations for purposes of business intelligence. In a digital age it is important for businesses to make use of data captured about its entities.  You will learn about information retrieval, data presentation, pattern recognition techniques and data models that can be used in business intelligence applications.  Descriptive data models can be used to gain a better understanding of overall organisation and predictive data models inform the decision making in all aspects of the business.

    • Interaction Design and User Experience (30 credits)

      This module aims to enable you to further understand the underpinning concepts and practical techniques relevant when considering humans, both in the organisation of design and design processes, and as a way of incorporating a user perspective in the design of products and services. The module also includes analysis of user experience, the characteristics of users and their tasks, and the technical, organisational and physical environment in which products or systems may operate.

To find out more about this course, please download the full Business Computing & Data Analytics BSc specification (PDF).

We review our courses regularly to improve your experience and graduate prospects so modules may be subject to change.

  1. Teaching and independent learning
  2. Coursework and assessment

Facilities

Our Hendon campus will offer you the chance to work on state-of-the-art laboratories, an amazing range of hardware tools and software applications, as well as having access to excellent facilities.

Our Innovation Hub will give you the opportunity to engage in real-world scenarios incorporating complex business problems that will challenge you to come up with creative ideas, apply your skills and practice your knowledge.

Our labs are fully equipped with the latest computer technologies, the library offers you a wide range of options to work online, have meetings with your fellow students and prepare your work using excellent audio-visual hardware.

Our specialist labs will help you to experience the use of technology that is at the core of the fourth industrial revolution, including 3D printing, biometric sensors, augmented and virtual reality, dashboard design software and the latest tools in data analytics, business intelligence and machine learning.

You will be able to borrow laptops to work from home, and you have several options for attending video calls and online meetings, while each module offers full access to learning materials, assessment, and additional resources.

Student plugging wires into a wall of computer equipment

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the Business Computing and Data Analytics BSc support your career?

Our BSc Honours Business Computing & Data Analytics degree prepares you for a wide range of varied careers. As a graduate you will have excellent career prospects and the range of potential employers will be vast across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. There is also the potential to work as a self-employed director of your own business.

Your future career might include a systems analyst, developer of information systems, system tester, designer of interactive systems and database administrator, information system architect, database designer and information technologist, business analyst and data analyst.

Our careers service offers you a range of support both while you're studying with us – and after you've graduated.

Graduate job roles

Business analyst - A business analyst evaluates business processes, reviews requirements, identifying areas for improvement, and developing and implementing solutions. The role involves the development of optimisation strategies and requires staying up-to-date on the latest IT advancements to automate and modernise systems.

Data analyst - A data analyst interprets trends or patterns in complex data sets. The role entails filtering and “cleaning” data by reviewing computer reports, , and performance indicators to locate and correct problems. The role involves working with management to prioritise business and information needs.

IT project manager - An IT project manager specialises in information technology but also in sectors unrelated to IT that rely on IT systems. Their role is to manage the development and implementation of plans to meet business needs and the change control procedures to ensure a smooth transition during the implementation period.

Systems designer - A systems designer develops and implements information systems in sectors as diverse as finance, communications and retail. The role can involve working on all elements of the system including hardware, software, installation and maintenance. There are a range of opportunities in this increasingly varied industry.

Systems developer - systems developers test systems, diagnose and fix faults, write diagnostic programs and design and write code for operating systems and software to ensure that they function more efficiently. They may also create systems in response to technical specifications supplied by an IT analyst, often integrating off-the-shelf software packages into existing systems.

IT systems/business analyst - An IT systems/business analyst designs new IT solutions to improve business efficiency and productivity. They are responsible for analysing the business needs of their clients and stakeholders to help identify business problems and propose solutions, using the discipline of business analysis. They examine existing business models and the flows of data in the business and then design an appropriate improved IT solution.

Information systems manager - An information systems manager installs computer systems, ensures that backup systems operate effectively, buys hardware and software, provides the ICT technology infrastructures for an organisation, and contributes to the organisational policy with regard to quality standards and strategic planning.

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).

MDXcelerator Student Start-Up Support

Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career. We encourage our students to maintain an active profile on LinkedIn and share their learning journey in a professional manner on other social networks. We frequently invite businesses to visit our Hendon campus to present their perspective on what makes an attractive graduate, as well as discuss placement and internship opportunities.

Work placements

Placements and internships greatly improve graduate employment prospects, and those who take part achieve excellent academic results through applying their learning in a professional setting.

You can decide to do a placement year-long work experience placement in your second year. There is also a placement module in your final year. These give you the opportunity to put what you've learned to practical use and make valuable industry contacts.

Our specialist employability service will help you find placement opportunities.

Our strong links with industry will offer you the opportunity to appreciate how your programme of study aligns to the current needs of the sector. We will actively support you to prepare your placement application, but also help you to identify opportunities for internships if you do not wish to opt for a full 4-year sandwich year. We strongly feel that any relevant work experience that you can integrate in your programme of study will help you to acquire those skills necessary for a successful professional graduate profile.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students1

Full-time: £9,250

Part-time: £77 per taught credit

International students2

Full-time students: £16,600

Part-time students: £138 per taught credit

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees

Student Starter Kit. Get help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad. Find out about our MDX Student Starter Kit.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Georgios Dafoulas
Professor & Director of Programmes, Computer Science

Georgios' research interests lie where Information Systems meet Human Computer Interaction. He is really motivated towards investigating human aspects of information systems development (e.g. communities of practice), effects of computer supported cooperative work in software engineering (e.g. distributed team working), computer mediated communication (e.g. distance and e-learning) and Information and Communication Technologies (e.g. Internet computing and e-commerce).

Harjinder Rahanu
Senior Lecturer

Dr Harjinder Rahanu is a module leader in Business Information Systems. His research interests include Social, legal and ethical issues of computing and Technology supported learning.

David Windridge
Professor of Data Science and Machine Learning

David Windridge is a Professor in Data Science and Machine Learning at the Department of Computing, Middlesex University, London and founder of the university's Data Science Programme.

His research interests centre on Machine Learning and Cognitive Systems, with a historic research interest in Astrophysics/Cosmology (stochastic cosmological modelling in particular).

He is a Visitor at the Centre for Vision, Speech & Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey UK, and has authored around 200 peer-reviewed publications in different subject areas.

Roman Belavkin
Associate Professor in Informatics

Dr Belavkin holds a PhD in Computer Science from The University of Nottingham, and an MSc in Physics from Moscow State University.

His reaearch interests include:

  • Dynamics of information
  • Learning, adaptive and evolving systems
  • Duality of utility and information
  • Cognitive science of decision making

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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